CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR
Defensive lineman Ben Bass is hoping to be with the Cowboys from Week 1 after spending much of last season on the practice squad.

Ventura County Star

CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR
Defensive lineman Ben Bass, stretching at Cowboys practice in Oxnard, went undrafted out of Texas A&amp;M and earned a spot with the Cowboys during an open tryout in the spring of 2012.

Ventura County Star

CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR
Ben Bass tries to get around a teammate during Cowboys practice in Oxnard. The defensive lineman hopes to continue the team’s depth chart after being an undrafted rookie last year.

Ventura County Star

Ben Bass played 16 games during his college career at Texas A&M, making just one start while accumulating a meager 36 tackles.

Bass didn't get chosen in the 2012 NFL Draft or even get an offer to sign as an undrafted free agent.

While it appeared no one in the NFL believed in him, Bass was confident he had the ability to play at the highest level.

With nothing to lose, Bass attended an open tryout with the Dallas Cowboys last spring. The defensive lineman grabbed one of the two available spots.

Just more than a year later, Bass will line up with the No. 1 defense and start Sunday night's preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins in Canton, Ohio.

"The long journey makes you appreciate things even more," Bass said. "I'm almost playing with nothing to lose because I wasn't supposed to be here in the first place.

"If (the NFL) had never expanded the offseason roster from 80 guys to 90 (in April 2012), I wouldn't be here. But once I got here, I have worked to make the most of it."

Once he got his 6-foot-5 frame inside Valley Ranch, Bass started making plays.

He showed enough during Organized Team Activities and mini camp to earn an invitation to training camp. When he got to Oxnard last year, he just kept making plays, in practice and during his limited opportunities in preseason games.

Bass earned a spot on the practice squad. When the team's defensive line suffered some injuries late in the season, they promoted him to the 53-man roster.

Bass played in two games for Dallas last season, making two tackles before his season came to an end with an ankle injury.

He returned for offseason workouts with more confidence and determined to be on the team's roster for Week 1.

"He is one of those guys that seem to make a lot of plays," head coach Jason Garrett said. "He is one of those guys who you have a lot of optimism about because of how young you feel like he is physically.

"He can get so much bigger and stronger to tap into those instincts he has displayed. We are excited about his progress."

Bass and second-year defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford have grown close over the time they have played together.

Watching Crawford writhing on the field in pain on the first day of training camp after tearing his Achilles tendon was almost too much for Bass to bare.

"Man, when he went down, I almost cried," Bass said. "He's like a brother to me."

Ironically, Crawford's injury created more opportunity for Bass to demonstrate his talent.

Less serious injuries to Jay Ratliff and Anthony Spencer also gave Bass the chance to play with the first-team defense.

"It allows me a chance to show what I can," Bass said. "I know I can play different positions. Now I have a shot to.

"... I never want to get a chance to play because someone goes down. I want to play because of my ability."

Regardless of how he got his chance, Bass has shown he belongs.

"I am so much more confident in my ability, so much more confident in the scheme," Bass said. "I feel like I am built to play the 4-3 defense. That's kind of what my skill set is for.

"I feel like I am on the right track. I feel like I am doing the right things. It's just a matter of doing the right things every single day. That's what I'm trying to strive toward."